Abstract: A process for continuously preparing a primary aromatic amine by reacting a corresponding cycloaliphatic alcohol with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range from 80 to 350° C. in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalytically active composition of the catalyst, before its reduction with hydrogen, comprises from 90 to 99.8% by weight of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of oxygen compounds of palladium and from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of oxygen compounds of platinum.

Abstract: Processes comprising: providing a mixture comprising monoethylene glycol and diethylenetriamine; and subjecting the mixture to extractive distillation with a diethylenetriamine-selective solvent comprising triethylene glycol to provide a first stream comprising monoethylene glycol and a second stream comprising diethylenetriamine; wherein the first stream is substantially free of diethylenetriamine, and wherein the second stream is substantially free of monoethylene glycol.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethylene amines and ethanolamines by hydrogenative amination of monoethylene glycol and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a catalyst having an active composition comprising ruthenium and cobalt and no further additional metal of group VIII and also no metal of group IB is used in the form of shaped catalyst bodies which in the case of a spherical shape or rod shape in each case have a diameter of <3 mm, in the case of a pellet shape have a height of <3 mm and in the case of all other geometries in each case have an equivalent diameter L=1/a? of <0.70 mm, where a? is the external surface area per unit volume (mms2/mmp3) and: a ? = Ap Vp where Ap is the external surface area of the shaped catalyst body (mms2) and Vp is the volume of the shaped catalyst body (mmp3), is proposed.

Abstract: Processes comprising: providing an aromatic alcohol; and reacting the aromatic alcohol with ammonia at a temperature of 80 to 350° C. in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst to form a crude reaction product comprising a corresponding primary aromatic amine, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition which, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises 90 to 99.8% by weight of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of an oxygen-comprising compound of palladium, and 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of an oxygen-comprising compound of platinum.

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenating 1,4-butanediol to .gamma.-butyrolactone in the gas phase in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains 4-40% by weight of copper and 0-5% by weight of Na.sub.2 O, based on the total weight of the catalyst, on a carrier consisting of 80-100% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and 0-20% by weight of CaO.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing hydroxyl-containing polymers, in particular for preparing polytetrahydrofuran with terminal hydroxyl groups, from the corresponding acyloxy-containing polymers by transesterification with alcohols in the presence of a sodium-containing catalyst. In this process the polytetrahydrofuiran solution is passed in the presence of a catalytic amount of water directly through at least one ion exchanger following the transesterification in order to remove the sodium cations.The novel process makes it possible to remove the sodium cations from the sodium-containing catalyst in an economic manner and with little complexity. The residual sodium content can be reduced to values of less than 0.5 ppm.

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenating 1,4-butanediol to .gamma.-butyrolactone in the gas phase in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains 4-40% by weight of copper and 0-5% by weight of Na.sub.2 O, based on the total weight of the catalyst, on a carrier consisting of 80-100% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and 0-20% by weight of CaO.

Abstract: Preparation of aromatic or heteroaromatic nitrites of the formula I ##STR1## where X is nitrogen or C-R.sup.6 and all of the R substituents represent hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, nitro, amino or similar groups, provided at least one substituent is a cyano or alkylcyano group. The nitrites I are produced by reacting aromatic or heteroaromatic hydrocarbons of the formula II ##STR2## where X is nitrogen or C-R.sup.6, provided at least one substituent is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, with ammonia and oxygen at 200 to 600.degree. C. under a pressure of 0.1 to 5 bar in the gas phase over a supported catalyst containing 0.5 to 20% by weight of vanadium oxide. The supported catalyst consists of from 2 to 30 particle fractions whose mean diameters differ by from 10 to 80% and the supporting carrier of the catalyst has a bulk density of 0.6 to 1.2 kg/liter.

Abstract: Supported catalysts which are suitable for ammonoxidation, comprisinga) a spherical or approximately spherical support material which essentially comprises aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide and whose bulk density is from 0.6 to 1.2 kg/l, andb) an active material which comprises, as essential components, vanadium and antimony in oxidic form.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a phenyl amine which may be substituted by alkyl or cycloalkyl in which the corresponding cyolohexylamine is reduced at temperatures of 150.degree. to 300.degree. C. and pressures of 0.01 to 50 bar in the presence of a heterogeneous dehydrogenation catalyst consisting essentially of palladium or a palladium/platinum mixture supported on carrier consisting of the oxides of rare earth metals and and metals of Group IVb of the Periodic Table of Elements, with the proviso that the palladium/platinum mixture may also be supported on an alumina carrier. The cyclohexylamine reactant can be advantageously prepared by reacting the corresponding phenol with ammonia and hydrogen at 100.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of the same heterogeneous catalyst as a preliminary step to provide a two stage process using the same catalyst in both stages.

Abstract: Alkylbenzenes are prepared by converting an alkyl-, alkylidene- or alkenylcyclohexene or an alkyl- or alkenylcyclohexadiene in the presence of an acidic zeolite catalyst of the pentasil type, in the gas phase or liquid phase.